Pusher machine and coke guide interlock



March 18, 1952 J. w. DRAKE 2,589,231

PUSHER MACHINE AND coma GUIDE INTERLOCK Filed Jan. 11, 1947 4Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

i W c JOHN W Den/(5.

BY 3 5 jfmdw 7' TOE/V5 )T March 18, 1952 J. w. DRAKE PUS HER MACHINE ANDCOKE GUIDE INTERLOCK 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 11, 1947 INVENTOR.JoH/v WDPAKE.

HTTO/QNEX March 18, 1952 J. w. DRAKE PUSHER MACHINE AND COKE GUIDEINTERLOCK 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 11. 1947 INVEN TOR.

.JOH/v W DRAKE.

March 18, 1952 J. w. DRAKE PUSHER MACHINE AND COKE GUIDE INTERLOCK 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 11, 1947 INVENTOR. JOHN W Deal/(E.

BY v

\ zls H 7' TORNE Y.

Patented Mar. 18, 1952 PUSHER MACHINE AND COKE GUIDE INTERLOCK I John W.Drake, Leetsdale, Pa., assignor to Koppers Company, Inc., a corporationof Delaware Application January 11, 1947, Serial No. 721,620 In GreatBritain January 16, 1946 14 Claims. 1

This invention concerns improvements in or relating to coke dischargingplant for the ovens of horizontal coke oven batteries, and particularlyto plant of the kind which comprises a pusher machine adapted to travelintermittently along one side (hereinafter called the pusher side) of acoke oven battery and carrying a pusher ram, and means for pushing thisram into and through the ovens of the battery, one at a time, todischarge the coke from the ovens at the side (hereinafter called thecoke side) of the battery opposite to that along which the pushermachine is adapted to travel, the coke so discharged being directed by acoke guide forming part of the coke guide machine into a quenching carwhich, like the coke guide machine, is adapted to be traversed along thecoke side of the battery, the pusher machine and the coke guide machinebeing provided or associated with door operating means for removing theoven doors respectively at the pusher side and the coke side of the ovenbattery to enable the ovens to be discharged.

It is usual for the ram of the pusher machine to be driven forwardlyinto the oven on its pushing stroke by electrically operated means andto be withdrawn from the oven by the same means, an electrical controlbox being provided in the control cabin of the machine for regulatingthe operation of the pusher ram.

In the past, there had been a liability for accidents to occur fromwhich damage to the battery structure or injury to the operators couldresult, these accidents being due to the operator at the pusher side ofthe battery bringing the pusher machine opposite to and removing thepusher side door of an oven different from that with which the operatorin charge of the coke guide machine has aligned that machine and fromwhich ovenhe has removed the door at the coke side of the battery, withthe result that when the pusher ram is driven into the oven with whichit is aligned, the unopened door at the coke end of this particular oventakes the full force of the powerful ram and is either broken or pushedoff the door frame and/or the oven structure surrounding the door frameis badly damaged and the adjacent buckstays distorted. In addition thereis, in these circumstances, always the danger of injury to the operatorat the coke side of the batteries occurring.

Various systems for providing an interlock between the pusher machineand the coke guide machine of an oven battery have been proposedhitherto for the purpose of eliminating the abovenientioned liability ofaccidents occurring, and

it is an object of this invention to provide an improved interlockingsystem of this general character and whereby improved pusher control isachieved.

According to the present invention, there is provided a coke-ovendischarging plant of the kind referred to, wherein are provided pusherram control means for normally rendering the pusher ram inoperable in aforward direction; a pipe line for and adjacent each oven of thebattery, such pipe lines extending from the pusher side to the coke sideof the battery; a pressure fluid supply source carried by and travellingwith the pusher machine or the coke guide machine; coupling means fortemporarily coupling the said pressure fluid supply source to one of thesaid pipe lines at a time and being such that the coupling of the supplysource to a pipe line can only be effected when the machine carrying thesaid supply source is aligned with the oven with which the pipe line tobe coupled is associated; and fluid pressure operated means adapted tobe actuated by fluid pressure built up in a pipe line connected to thesaid supply source and adapted to operate the said pusher ram controlmeans, to render the ram operable in a forward direction, only when thepusher machine and the coke guide machines are aligned respectively withthe opposite ends of the same oven.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, there is provideda coke-discharging plant of the kind referred to, including electricswitch means normally rendering inoperative the electric driving gearfor effecting the forward or pushing stroke of the pusher machine ram,and fluid pressure operated means-energized from a pressure fluid supplysource carried by and travelling with the pusher machine or the cokeguide machine-adapted to operate the said electric switch to enable thepusher ram to make its forward stroke, only when the pusher and cokeguide machines are aligned with the same oven of the battery.

According to a still further aspect of the invention, there is providedfor a horizontal coke oven battery, coke discharging plant of the kindreferred to, including a pipe line for and adjacent each oven of thebattery and extending from the pusher to the coke side of the latter, apressure fluid supply source carried by and travelling with the pushermachine or the coke guide machine, means for coupling the said supplysource to one end of the pipe line of an oven with which the machinecarrying the supply source is aligned, and an electric switch normallypreventing the pusher machine ram from being driven forwardly butoperable by the fluid pressure built up in the pipe line to which thesaid pressure fluid supply source is connected. so as to render the saidram capable of making its forward stroke only when the pusher and cokeguide machines are both aligned with the same oven.

From the foregoing, it will readily be understood that the inventionprovides an interlocking system between the pusher and coke guidemachines in which the pusher ram is inoperable in its forward directionexcept when the said electric switch means in the circuit of the pusherram operating means has been closed by the said pneumatically operateddevice-thus the pusher ram is normally inoperative in a forwarddirection and can only be rendered operative when the coke guide machineand the pusher machine have both been aligned with the same oven and thenecessary connections have been made between the pipe line of the ovenand the said fluid pressure supply source.

In one embodiment in accordance with the invention, and in which thepusher ram is electrically driven, the said means for normally renderingthe pusher ram inoperable in a forward direction may comprise anelectric switch adapted normally to interrupt the electric circuit ofthe electrical mechanism for effecting the forward stroke of the ram;the said pressure fluid supply source, which may be an air compressor,may be carried by the pusher machine, the supply source having means, e.g, a flexible hose, for coupling itto the pusher side end of the pipeline of an oven with which the pusher machine is aligned; the coke guidemachine may carry a dead-end pipe (which may be furnished with apressure relief valve) having means for coupling it to the adjacent endof the pipe line of an oven with which the, coke guide machine isaligned;

and the fluid pressure (e. g. pneumatically)- operated device may befurnished between the compressor and the said flexible hose or likecoupling means on the pusher machine, such fluid pressure Operated devicbeing associated with the said electric switch means so that, whenoperated by fluid pressure, it will cause the switch means to render thepusher ram operable in the forward direction, this operation of theswitch only being effected when the pusher machine and the coke guidemachine are aligned with one and the same oven, and the dead-end pipe ofthe coke guide machine is coupled to the same oven pipe line as thefluid pressure supply source on the pusher machine.

In another embodiment in accordance with the invention and in which thepusher ram is electrically driven, the said means for normally renderinthe pusher ram inoperable in a forward direction may again comprise aself-opening electric switch means adapted normally to interrupt theelectric circuit of the electrical mechanism for effecting the forwardstroke of the pusher ram, and the said pressure fluid supply source,which again may, and preferably does, comprise an air compressor, may bemounted on the coke guide machine, such pressure fluid supply sourcebeing furnished with a flexible hose or other suitable coupling means bywhich it may be connected to the adjacent end of any one of the pipeline of the ovens of the battery, and these pipe lines may each beprovided at the pusher side of the battery with a fluid pressure (e. g.pneumatically) operated device adapted, when the pusher machine isaligned with the oven with which such fluid pressure operated device isassociated, to operate the said electric switch means to render thepusher ram operable in a forward direction.

The said fluid pressure operated devices may each comprise a cylinderfurnished with a piston, the piston rod of which constitutes a push rod,such piston being ordinarily (i. e. when the piston is not subjected tofluid pressure) retained by spring means in a position in which the saidpush rod it retracted, but the piston serving to project the push rodwhen the fluid pressure in the associated pipe line and cylinder isbuilt up to an appropriate pressure by fluid (e. g. air) received fromthe fluid pressure supply source on the coke guide machine.

The said plunger may be arranged to cooperate with a lever arrangementon the pushermachine for controlling the said electric switch andadapted, when the pusher machine is aligned with the same oven as thecoke guide machine and the said fluid pressure is built up in the pipeline of this oven, to close the electric switch to render the pusher ramoperable in a forward direction, this forward movement of the ram beingindependently initiated through a manual control.

It is preferred to arrange the said oven pipe lines (which extend fromthe pusher to the coke side of the battery) below the ovens instead ofabove them, for, in the former position, the pipes are subjected to lessintense heat conditions than would be the case if the pipe lines werearranged over the top of the battery.

If desired, the arrangement may also be such that the coupling of anoven pipe line to the pusher machine and the coke guide machine as aboveexplained, may serve simultaneously to interrupt the traction circuitsof the pusher and coke guide machines so that they cannot long travelwith respect to the battery.

In the first embodiment of the invention above referred to, a quickrelease valve may be provided in thedead-end pipe of the coke guidemachine for releasing the fluid pressure in an oven pipe line when it isdesired to do so, for example, to enable a workman, in the case of anemergency, to stop the forward stroke of the ram at any mement, or toopen the pipe line to the atmosphere when the pushing operation has beencompleted. A similar release valve may be provided in the secondembodiment of the invention above referred to.

If desired an electric indicator light may be provided on the pushermachine or the coke guide machine or on both these machines and bearrangedto indicate when the said quick release valve is opened.

Although, in the two embodiments of the invention referred to, thepressure fluid supply source may be mounted on the coke guide machineand the pusher machine respectively, it should be understood that thearrangement may, in either case, be reversed so that the pressure fluidsupply source is on the opposite side of the battery from that above setout, the positions of the other parts of the interlocking system beingreadjusted to suit this reversal of the position of the fluid pressuresupply source.

The interlocking system preferably only controls the forward motion ofthe pusher ram, the latter being capable of making its return strokeindependently of the control exercised by the interlocking system.

In order that the nature of the invention and the method of carrying itinto practice may be more thoroughly understood, two embodiments of thesame will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings,in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic part vertical crosssectional elevation of acoke ovenbattery and diagrammatically shows the coke-discharging plantfor such battery, this plant having the present invention appliedthereto;

Figure 2 is a part horizontal sectional and top plan of the arrangementshown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but shows another embodimentaccording to the invention;

Figure 4 is an enlarged part-horizontal sectional and top plan of adevice for coupling together two parts of the pressure fluid conduitarrangement of the interlocking system of the plant according to theinvention;

Figure 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional elevation of the fluidpressure operated device and its co-operating lever arrangement on thepusher machine employed in the embodiment of the invention shown inFigure 3; and

Figure 6 is a plan view of the contact plate of the said leverarrangement.

In the drawings, the coke oven battery is indicated by the reference land the ovens of this battery by the reference 2. The longitudinalvertical pusher machine side face of the masonry of the battery isbraced by longitudinally spaced vertical buckstays 3 whilst the oppositelongitudinal side face of the masonry is braced by similar buckstays thebuckstays being arranged opposite the heating walls between the ovens ofthe battery in the usual manner and as is shown in Figure 2 of thedrawings.

On one side of the battery, hereinafter called the pusher side, atrackway 5 is provided upon which the pusher machine 6 is adapted totravel parallel to the battery. The pusher machine has a pusher ram '1movable longitudinally at right angles to the longitudinal pusher sideface of the battery for pushing the ovens of the battery in the usualmanner.

A bench 8 is arranged along the pusher side of the battery between thepusher machine '6 and the battery.

On the side of the battery opposite to the pusher machine, andhereinafter referred to as the coke side of the battery, a furtherlongitudinal bench 9 is provided and on this is carried a trackway II)for the coke guide machine ll which is adapted to travel along the cokeside of the battery parallel to the latter. The

coke guide machine is provided with a coke guide l2 and means for movingit longitudinally (at right angles to the adjacent longitudinal sideface of the battery) with respect to the coke guide machine so as tointroduce the guide into the end of an oven when the door has beenremoved from the latter.

The plant so far described may be of any usual or conventional design.

Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings show one arrangement of interlockingsystem according to this invention applied to the coke-discharging plantof the battery and, as will be seen, a pipe line l3 extends adjacenteach oven, and at a level below the oven sole, from the pusher side tothe coke side of the battery.

The coke side end of each pipe line i3 has an upwardly directed part Mwhich extends to a level above the coke side bench s and above the levelof the soles of the ovens, the part It of the pipe line being secured bycleats I5 to an adjacent 6 buckstay 4. The upper end of the part I4 ofthe pipe line is provided with one half [6 of a quick releasecoupling(which may be a self-sealing coupling), the other half [1 of which iscarried by one end of a flexible hose !8 hereinafter more fully referredto.

The pusher side end. of the pipe line i3 is carried under the side bench8 and has an upward extension [9 supported, for example, by thestanchions 20 of a handrail and at its upper end this pipe lineextension I9 is furnished with one half 21 of a quick release coupling(which may be a self-sealing coupling), the other half 22 of which iscarried by the free end of a flexible hose 23 having its other endcoupled to an air pressure gauge 24 and a pressure fluid operated devicecomprising a cylinder 25 (Fig. 2) in which is arranged a piston, notshown, adapted, when air pressure is built up in the interlocking systemto a sufficient extent, to move in the said cylinder and so to cause theclosing of an electric switch 66' in the electric circuit 12,13 of thepusher ram motor controller for motor 36' (Fig. 3) so that the ram 1 maybe operated to make its forward stroke, the said electric switch beingspring loaded or otherwise suitably constructed for causing it normallyto remain in the open position so that the pusher ram is normallyinoperable in the forward direction and can only be rendered operable bythe closing of the said switch (or an alternative switch which may beprovided, if desired, to short circuit the said switch).

The switch 66' may be of a type having two leads 12 which connect withmotor 36' and both of which connect with a single contact point. Thepurpose of this is to enable the pusher ram operator to operate thecircuit to retract the ram 1 at will, such circuit not being influencedin any manner by the interlocking mechanism. For advancing the ram,however, connection must be made between the contact point for leads (2and the third lead 13 to the motor 36, to connect the third lead 13 withone of the two leads 12, to complete the circuit [2, 3 for advancing thepusher ram 1 into the ovens. It is this circuit 12, 13 that is thesubject of the interlock and under the control of the coke guide machineoperator.

The construction of the cylinder 25 is similar to the construction ofthe cylinder 39 shown in Fig. 5.

The said position in the cylinder 25 is preferably arranged only tocontrol the forward stroke of the ram and not the withdrawal of thelatter.

An electric indicator light or lights may be provided on the pushermachine and/or the coke guide machine to indicate whether the piston isin the ram energized position or not.

On the pusher machine is mounted, in any suitable position, an aircompressor 26 connected to a receiver 21 having its outlet connected tothe cylinder 25 by a pipe 28 including a control cock 29, this cockenabling the supply or" pressure fluid to the said cylinder 25 and theflexible hose 23 to be ,cut off or regulated as and when desired.

Until the flexible hose 23 is to be connected to a pipe line E3 of anoven, it is engaged in the bifurcated or hooked end or" a supportingmemher which may be in the form of a lever 30 or equivalent memberpivotally carried on the pusher machine and serving normally to maintainclosed an electric switch 3! in the electrical circuit of the electricaltraction means for traversing the pusher machine in the direction of thelength of the battery, the arrangement being, however, such thatwhen'the hose 23 is unhooked from the lever 30 to couple it to thecoupling half 2! carried by the pipe line I3, the switch 3| willautomatically open and break the said electric circuit so that furtherlong travel of the pusher machine will be prevented until the hose 23has again been disconnected from the pipe line [3 and re-hung upon thelever 30.

On the coke guide machine II is mounted a pipe 32, herein referred to asthe dead-end pipe, permanently connected at one end by a flexible hose33 to a quick release valve 34 also carried by the coke guide machine.This valve normally closes its end of the dead-end pipe but can beopened quickly to release the pressure in the interlocking system whenthis is to be disconnected or in the case of emergencies. The other endof the dead-end pipe 32 is connected to the opposite end of the flexiblehose It to that end carrying the quick release coupling part llpreviously described.

The hoses l8 and 23 are preferably of such a length that neither of themis capable of being connected to a pipe line [3 other than that of theoven 2 with which the pusher machine or coke guide machine carrying thehose is aligned.

A switch 35, similar to the hereinbefore described switch 3|, may beprovided on the coke guide machine for the purpose of interrupting, whenthe hose I8 is coupled to a pipe line I3, the supply of electricalenergy to the electrical driving or traction means for effecting thelong travel of the coke guide machine, the said switch 35 having a lever36 or an equivalent member upon which the coupling end of the hose 18may be hooked or engaged when the hose is not in use for connecting thedead-end pipe 32 to a pipe line i3, the hose serving to depress thelever 36 so as to close the switch 35 to close the electric circuit tothe said electrical driving means, the said circuit being openedautomatically when the hose is lifted from the lever 36 to couple it tothe adjacent end of a pipe line I3.

Assuming that the pusher side and coke side doors 3! and 38(diagrammatically illustrated in the drawings) of the same oven havebeen removed and that the pusher machine 6 and the coke guide machine IIhave been lined up in their respective positions for pushing the saideven, then the hose 23 on the pusher machine and the hose I8 on the cokeguide machine are respectively coupled to the adjacent ends of the pipeline 13 of the oven with which the said machines are aligned. Soconnecting the hoses 23 and IE to the pipe line releases the levers 3Band 38 respectively of the switches 3| and 35 and interrupts thetraction circuits of the pusher and coke guide machines so that theycannot long travel.

The quick release valve 34 on the coke guide machine should, at thisstage, be closed so that as soon as air is fed to the pipe line l3 ofthe interlocking system from the .air compressor 26, which compressor 26is now started and is, or if already in operation is, placed incommunication with the pipe line [3 by, for example, the manipulation ofan appropriate cock, such as the cook 23. Thus air pressure is built upin the pipe line and eventually the piston in the control cylinder 25 isactuated, whereupon the electric switch 66', previously rendering thepusher ram incapable of making .its forward movement, is operated andthe ram becomes operable in the forward direction and the pushingoperation may be commenced.

If it should so happen that the flexible hoses i8 and 23 respectively onthe coke guide machine and the pusher machine are not coupled to thesame pipe line I 3, air pressure cannot be built up in the pipe line andtherefore the control piston in the control cylinder will not operateand the ram controller will not be energized to enable the ram to makeits forward stroke.

Assuming that the connections have been properly made, then should it benecessary to open the quick release valve 34 for one reason or another,the workman at the coke side of the battery can open the quick releasevalve 34 and so stop the forward stroke of the pusher ram.

If desired, an electric indicator light (not shown in the drawings) maybe provided and arranged to be illuminated in the pusher machine whenthe release valve 34 is opened. This release valve 34 is also adapted tobe used to open the interlocking system to the atmosphere at thecompletion of a pushing operation so that the hoses of the system may bedisconnected from the oven pipe with safety.

After the disconnection of the hoses l8 and 23, these are rc-hung uponthe levers 36 and respectively so that the switches and 3| are closedand the coke guide and pusher machines are again rendered capable oflong travel.

Although flexible hoses I3 and 23 have been described above forconnecting the coke guide machine and the pusher machine respectively tothe opposite ends of a pipe line l3, any other suitable coupling meansmay be employed for this purpose, and, for example, coupling devices ofthe form hereinafter described may be employed instead of the hoses.

In this further embodiment, the compressor 26 is mounted on the cokeguide machine I I instead the arrangement is generally similar to thatshown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings and, in so far as the parts arethe same, the same references will be used in the drawings.

In this embodiment, the compressor 23 is mounted on the coke guidemachine II instead of on the pusher machine 6, and the dead-end pipe 32of the first-mentioned embodiment of the invention is eliminated.Furthermore, a series of fluid (e. g.-air) pressure operated devices(generally indicated by the reference 39) is provided, and these areconnected one to the pusher side end'of each pipe line 13, the devicesbeing carried by the structure of the bench 3 on the pusher side of 'thebattery at a level somewhat below the bench 3. Thus each pipe line i3 isprovided with arr-individual fluid pressure operated device 39.

Each pressure fluid operated device 39 comprises, as shown in Figure 5,a cylinder 40 connected at one end to a pipe line 13 and having a piston41 sliding within it but urged inwardly, with respect to the cylinder,by a spring 42. The cylinders 59 are all arranged with their axesperpendicular to the pusher side vertical longitudinal face of thebattery, and the piston of each cylinder has coaxially fixed to it aplunger rod 33 passing through the outer end of the cylinder 40 andfurnished at its outer end with a bulbous or rounded head M or a rolleror equivalent device.

The head 44, or the equivalent device, of the plunger rod 43 is adaptedto cooperate with a contact plate 45 carried near its ends by the lowerends of the side links of a control lever 46 pivotally mounted at itsupper end upon a pivot pin 4'! supported by a drop bracket 48 on thebattery side of the pusher machine 6. The said contact bar 45 is, asshown in plan in Figure 6, conveniently in the form of a rigid striphavitng its end portions curved away from the batcry.

The lever 46 is urged into the vertical position shown in full lines inFigures 3 and 5 by one or more springs 49 carried upon a rod or rods 50supported by the drop bracket 48 and furnished, or each furnished, witha pressure-adjusting nut 5!.

The contact plate at is centrally provided with an abutment member 45adapted, when the plate is swung by a plunger 43 away from the battery,to engage the plunger 55 of an electric switch 65 arranged in theelectric circuit l2, 73, of the electrical driving mechanism 35 whicheffects the forward stroke of the pusher ram, the switch 66 normallybeing maintained open but being closed by the action of the plunger 43on the contact plate 45.

The compressor 26, or its receiver 21 where provided, is adapted to becoupled to the coke side end of a pipe line 13 and this can either beeffected by a flexible hose such as the hose '23 described withreference to Figures 1 and 2, or by an alternative form of couplingdevice shown in Figures 3 and 4 and subsequently described, or by anyother suitable coupling means.

Assuming that the compressor 26 has been coupled to the coke side end ofa pipe line E3 of an oven with which the coke guide machine is aligned,and assuming that the control valve 29' has been operated to place thepipe line in communication with the compressor, then fluid pressure willbe built up in the pipe line i3 and in v the cylinder ie of thecorresponding fluid pressure operated device 39. Thus the plunger 43 ofthis device 39 will be projected and, if the pusher machine 5 has beenaligned with the same even 2 as the coke guide machine, the plunger willengage the contact plate 45 of the control lever 46 on the pushermachine and will cause this lever to swing upon its pivot away from thebattery and so to close the electric switch 55, thereby rendering thepusher rarn operative in a forward direction so that the pushingoperation can be initiated.

Should it be that when the plunger rod 43 is projected from its cylinderthe pusher machine is not yet aligned with the oven with which the cokeguide machine is aligned but is in the process of being so aligned, thenthe ram of the pusher machine will not become forwardly operable untilthe pusher machine has been moved along its trackway into alignment withthe oven in question and, in being so moved, has had its control arm 46operated by the head 44 0f the projected plunger rod 43 riding along oneof the curved ends of the contact plate 55 of the lever 46 and soforcing this lever outwards away from the battery to close the pusherram controlling switch 66.

The flexible hose coupling devices previously described herein arecoupled to the pipe lines manually and, as has previously been stated,may be replaced by alternative coupling devices which An automaticcoupling arrangement is shown in Figures 3 and 4. In this arrangement,the upper end of the upwardly extending part M of the pipe line 13 isfurnished with an elbow 54 passin into and secured in a horizontallyextending passage or port in the outer flange 55 of the associatedbuckstay 4, the open end of the pipe [4 at the coke side of the batterythus being horizontally directed and disposed in a vertical plane andpreferably flush with the outer flange 55 of the buckstay.

The coupling comprises a tube 56 arranged on the coke guide machinehorizontally and at right angles to the longitudinal face of the cokeoven battery, the tube 56 being fixed in a bracket 51 on the coke guidel2 and arranged to move with this guide to and from the coke ovenbattery, the said tube also being slidably carried by a bracket 58 onthe frame 59 of'the coke guide machine. The tube 55 is coupled by aflexible hose G0 to the air compressor 26 or to an intermediate receiver21.

The battery end of the tube 56 is provided with a metal sealing cup GIcontaining a resilient, e. g. soft rubber, cup washer 62 or anequivalent member supported on the inside by a further metal cup 63, theresilient washer 52 projecting beyond the battery edges of the metalcups 6! and 63 so that its free edge may seat resiliently upon theportion of the buckstay flange 55 surrounding the end of the oven pipeline 13 to Which the said tube is to be coupled.

Normally the said cup washer will be held clear of the battery of thebuckstays 4, but when the coke guide machine has been aligned with anoven of the battery and the coke guide i2 is moved up into the mouth ofthe oven, the resilient cup washer 62 will automatically be moved up tothe buckstay flange 55 so as to make a fluid-tight joint herewith and soplace the compressor 26 and the pipe line [3 in sealed communication. Astrong compression spring be may be provided on the tube 56 and bearranged so that it will assist in the withdrawal of the cup washer fromthe battery when the coke guide I2 is withdrawn from the oven, and thesaid tube may be capable of resilient axial movement independently ofthe coke guide so as to compensate for any inequalities in the conditionof the various buckstays with which the cup washer has to engage.

The valve 29' between the receiver 21 and the flexible hose 6!] may be athree-way valve so that the compressor map be placed in connection withthe hose 60, or this connection may be interrupted and the compressoropened to the atmosphere or put into service for some other purpose.

Cup Washer type coupling devices such as described with reference toFigures 3 and 4 may be employed in place of the flexible hoses l8 and 23in the interlocking system described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.v

The fluid pressure supply source, e. g. the compressorlfi, may be a partof the normal equipof the decarbonizing system on the pusher machine.

The invention as hereinabove set forth is-embodied in particular formand manner but may be y b manually Operated automatically variouslyembodied within the scope of the claims erated. Thus, for example, analternative form of manually operated coupling may comprise a pipeconnection having a flared rubber nozzle on a universal joint andadapted to be thrown over by hand.

hereinafter made.

I claim:

1. Horizontal coke oven battery coke-discharging apparatus comprising, apusher machine and a coke guide machine movable from oven to oven alongopposite sides of a battery of horizontal coke ovens, with a ram mountedon said pusher machine, electric switch means on the pusher machinenormally rendering inoperative electric driving gear for eiTecting theforward pushing stroke of theipusher machine ram, fluid pressureoperated means adapted to operate said electric switch means to enablethe pusher ram to make its forward stroke, fluid pressure linesindividualized to the respective ovens, a source of fluid pressure forsupplying fluid under pressure to the fluid pressure lines, toenergizethe fluid'pressure operated means to operate the. electric switch, meansto connect the source, of fluid pressure individually with theindividual fluid pressure lines, and means for impressing the pressureof the fluid of the individual lines onto thefluid pressure operatedmean that is to operate, said electric switch means; and in which thesource of fluid under pressure, and-the means to connect the sameindividually with the individual fluid pressure lines, are carried by,for travel from oven to. oven with, one of said machines, and the meansfor impressing the pressure of the fluid of theindividual lines onto thefluid pressureoperatedmeans that operates the electric switch. means, iscarried by, for travel from oven to oven with, thetother of saidmachines, and in which the means toiconnect the source of fluid underpressure withthe individuai fluid pressure lines and the-means forimpressing the fluid pressure, are such that they individually can beoperatively connected to only the pipe line of one oven at a time, andare necessarily individually operativelydisconnected from the individualpipe lines whenever the machines carrying them are individually out ofalignment with the ovens associated'with the respective pipelines,whereby to permit pushing of any of the ovens only when both the cokeguide machine and pusher machinearei. aligned with one and the same ovenof the battery, and to prevent accidental pushing of anyof the ovens.whenever one machine is aligned with any one of the ovens but the otheris not simultaneously also inalignrnent therewith for the cokepushingoperation of said on the pusher machine, for actuating theelectric 4 switch to render the ramvcapablenof partaking of its forwardpushing stroke, a pipe line for, and individualized to, each oven of abattery and extending from the pusher sideto the coke side of thebattery, a pressure fluid. supply source for said pipe lines carried by,and traveling from oven to oven with, said coke guide machine, and meanson the coke guide machine and movable from oven to oven therewith, forimpressing the pressure of fluid pressure, from said pressure fluidsupply source on the coke guide machine individually in each pipe line,and in which an element movable under pressure of fluid pressure in apipe line is carried by, for movement from oven to ovenwith, the pushermachine and in position on the pusher machine to impress the pressure offluid pressure in a pipe line onto the actuating means on the pushermachine for actuating the electrical. switch to render the ram capableof partaking of its forward pushing stroke, only when the pushermachine, on which said element is carried is otherwise aligned with theoven associated with a pipe line for the pushing operation of that oven,and in which a pneumatically operated device is provided for each pipeline on the pusher side of the battery, which devices are maintained infixed relation to the battery and are operable to a position, bypneumatic pressure of air built up in their pipe lines, to engage andthereby transmit the pressure of air in their lines onto said elementmovable under pressure of a pipe line and carried on the pusher machineto impress the pressure of a pipe line onto the actuating means on thepusher machine for actuating the electrical switch for pushing of thepusher ram.

3. In horizontal coke oven battery coke discharging apparatus, thecombination with a pusher machine and a coke guide machine movable fromoven to oven along opposite sides of a battery of horizontal coke ovens;a ram mounted on said pusher machine; pusher ram control means on thepusher machine for normally rendering the pusher ram inoperable in aforward direction; pressure operated means on said pusher machineadapted to be actuated by impression of pressure from a pressure fluidsupply source and arranged to operate said pusher ram control means, torender the ram operable in a forward direction, when the pressureoperated means is so actuated; and a pipe line for and individual toeach oven of the battery and extending from the pusher side to the cokeside of the battery; of a pressure fluid supply source carried by andtraveling from oven to oven with, one of said machines; coupling meanson, and movable from oven to oven with, said machine carrying thepressure fluid supply source, for temporarily coupling said pressurefluid supply source on said machine to only one of said pipe lines at atime and being such that the coupling of the pressure fluid supplysource on said machine to a pipe line can only be effected from saidmachine, and then only when said machine is aligned with the ovenassociated with that pipe line; and fluid pressure impressing means onand carried by, and traveling from oven to oven with, the other of saidmachines for operable connection with only one of said pipe lines at atime, and likewise arranged so that its operative connection to a pipeline can only be effected from the machine carrying it, and then onlywhen the machine carrying it is alignedwith the particular ovenassociated with that pipe line, for impressing the pressure of fluid inthe lineonto the pressure operated means for the pusher arm controlmeans only when the two said machines are aligned respectively with theopposite ends of one and the same oven, said coupling means and saidfluid pressure impressing means being necessarily disconnected from thepipe lines when the machines carrying them are out of alignment with theovens associated with the respective pipe lines, thus preventingimpressing of pressure by the individual lines onto the pressureoperated means for the pusher ram control means Whenever both of saidmachines are not aligned with one and the same oven for pushing thesame.

i. Horizontal coke oven battery coke discharging apparatus comprisingthe combination with a pusher machine and a coke guide machine movablefrom oven to oven along opposite sides of a battery of horizontal cokeovens; a ram mounted on said pusher machine; pusher ram control means onthe pusher machine for normallyrendering the pusher ram inoperable in aforward direction; pressure operated means on said pusher machineadapted to be actuated by impression of pressure from a pressure fluidsupply source and arranged to operate said pusher ram control means, torender the ram operable in a forward direction when the pressureoperated means is so actuated; and a pipe line for and individual toeach oven of the battery and extending from the pusher side to thecokeside of the battery; of a pressure fluid supply source carried by,and traveling from oven to oven with, one of said machines; couplingmeans on, and movable from oven to oven with, said machine carrying thepressure fluid supply source, for temporarily coupling the said pressurefluid supply source on said machine to only one of said pipe lines at atime and being such that the coupling of the pressure fluid supplysource on said machine to a pipe line can only be effected from saidmachine, and then only when said machine is aligned with the ovenassociated with that pipe line; and fluid pressure impressing means onand carried by, and traveling from oven to oven with, the other of saidmachines for operable connection with only one of said pipe lines at atime, and likewise arranged so that its operative connection to a pipeline can only be effected from the machine carrying it, and then onlywhen the machine carrying it is aligned with the particular ovenassociated with that pipe line, for impressing the pressure of fluid inthe line onto the pressure operated means for the pusher ram controlmeans only when the two said machines are aligned respectively with theopposite ends of one and the same oven, said coupling means and saidfluid pressure impressing means being necessarily disconnected from thepipe lines when the machines carrying them are out of alignment with theovens associated with the respective pipe lines, thus preventingimpressing of pressure by the individual lines onto the pressureoperated means for the pusher ram control means whenever both of saidmachines are not aligned with one and the same oven for pushing thesame, and in which the pressure fluid supply source is carried by thepusher machine, and comprises an air compressor, and in which the fluidpressure impressing means is carried by the coke guide machine andcomprises a dead-end pipe, and in which the pressure operated means onthe pusher machine A for operating the pusher ram control comprises apneumatically operable device so included in the pneumatic system thatwhen sufficient air pressure builds up in a pipe connected therewith, itwill be pneumatically actuated thereby to render the pusher ram operablein a forward direction.

5. Coke discharging apparatus as claimed in claim 4, and wherein aflexible hose is provided for connecting the said dead-end pipe,individually, as required, to its end of each of the said pipe lines.

6. Coke discharging apparatus as claimed in claim 5, and wherein theflexible hose is of a length sufficient to couple it solely to a pipeline of a single one of the ovens, and then only when the coke guide isin pushing alignment with the oven associated with that pipe line.

7. Coke discharging apparatus as claimed in claim 4, and wherein thedead-end pipe comprises a self-sealing coupling member, individuallyattachable in gas tight relation over a port of each of said pipe lines.

8. Horizontal coke oven battery coke discharging apparatus comprisingthe combination with a pusher machine and a coke guide 'machine movablefrom oven to oven along opposite sides of a battery of horizontal cokeovens; a ram mounted on said pusher machine; pusher ram control means onthe pusher machine for normally rendering the pusher ram inoperable in aforward direction; pressure operated means on said pusher machineadapted to be actuated by impression of pressure from a pressure fluidsupply source and arranged to operate said pusherram control means, torender the ram operable in a forward direction when the pressureoperated means is so actuated; and a pipe line for and individual toeach oven of the battery and extending from the pusher side to thecokeside of the battery; of a pressure fluid supply source carried by,and traveling from oven to oven with, one of said machines; couplingmeans on, and movable from oven to oven with, said machine carrying thepressure fluid supply source, for temporarily coupling the said pressurefluid supply source on said machine to only one of said pipe lines at atime and being such that the coupling of the pressure fluid supplysource on said machine to a pipe line can only be effected from saidmachine, and then only when said machine is aligned with the ovenassociated with that pipe line; and fluid pressure impressing means onand carried by, and traveling from oven to oven with, the other of saidmachines for operable connection with only one of said pipe lines at atime, and likewise arranged so that its operative connection to a pipeline can only be effected from the machine carrying it, and then onlywhen the machine carrying it is aligned with the particular ovenassociated with that pipe line, for impressing the pressure of fluid inthe line onto the pressure operated means for the pusher ram controlmeans only when the two said machines are aligned respectively with theopposite ends of one and the same oven, said coupling means and saidfluid pressure impressing means being necessarily disconnected from thepipe lines when the machines carrying them are out of alignment with theovens associated with the respective pipe lines, thus preventingimpressing of pressure by the individual lines onto the pressureoperated means for the pusher ram control means whenever both of saidmachines are not aligned with one and the same oven for pushing thesame, and in which the pressure fluid supply source is carried by thecoke guide machine and comprises an air compressor, and in which thefluid pressure impressing means is carried by the pusher machine andcomprises an element movable under the pressure of pressure fluid in apipe line, to impress the pressure of the pressure fluid in the pipeline onto the pressure operated means on the pusher machine foroperating the pusher ram control thereon, and in which a pneumaticallyoperated device is provided in fixed relation to the oven battery foreach pipe line on the pusher side of the battery, which device isoperable to a position, by pneumatic pressure of air built up by thecompressor in the pipe line, to engage and thereby transmit the pressureof air in its line onto the element on the pusher machine that ismovable to impress the pressure onto the pressure operated means tooperate the push-- or ram control means.

9. Coke discharging apparatus as claimed in claim 6, and wherein aflexible hose is provided for connecting the said air compressor,individually, as required, to its end of each of the said n Pe.-1.in

10. Coke oven discharge apparatus as claimed,

in claim '7, and wherein the flexible hose is of a length sufficient tocouple it solely to a pipe line of a single one of the ovens, and thenonly when the coke guide is in pushing alignment with the ovenassociated with that pipe line.

l1. Horizontal coke oven battery coke discharging apparatus comprisingthe combination with a pusher machine and a coke guide machine movablefrom oven to oven along opposite sides of a battery of horizontal cokeovens; a ram mounted on said pusher machine; pusher ram control means onthe pusher machine for normally rendering the pusher ram inoperable in aforward direction; pressure operated means on said pusher machineadapted to be actuated by impression of pressure from a pressure fluidsupply source and arranged to operate said pusher ram control means, torender the ram operable in a forward direction when the pressureoperated means is so actuated; and a pipe line for and individual toeach oven of the battery and extending from the pusher side to the cokeside of the-battery; of a pressure fluid supply source carried by, andtraveling from oven to'oven with, one of said machines; coupling meanson, and movable from oven to oven with, said machine carrying thepressure fluid supply source, for temporarily coupling the said pressurefluid supply source on said machine to only one of said pipe lines at a.time and being such that the coupling of the pressure fluid supplysource on said machine to a pipe line can only be effected from saidmachine, and then only when said machine is aligned with the ovenassociated with that pipe line; and fluid pressure impressing means on'and carried by, and traveling from oven to oven with, the other of saidmachines for operable connection with only one of said pipe lines at atime, and likewise arranged so that its operative connection to a pipeline can only be effected from the machine carrying it, and then onlywhen the machine carrying it is aligned with the particular ovenassociated with that pipe line, for impressing the pressure of fluid inthe line onto the pressureoperated means for the pusher ram controlmeans only when the two said machines are aligned respectively with theopposite ends of one'and the same oven, said coupling means and saidfluid pressure impressing means being necessarily disconnected from thepipe lines when the machines carrying them are out of alignment with theovens associated with the respective pipe lines, thus preventingimpressing of pressure by the individual lines onto the pressureoperated means for the pusher ram control means whenever both of saidmachines are not aligned with one and the same oven for pmhing the same,and in which at least one of the two units consisting of the couplingmeans and the fluid pressure impressing means comprises a self-sealingcoupling member in the form of a cup fixed upon a tube carried b amovable structure on the machine carrying the cup member, for mechanicalmovement into individual connecting relationship with a port of the pipeline of the individual ovens when the machine carrying the cup member isin pushing alignment with the respective ovens.

12. Horizontal coke oven battery coke discharging apparatus comprisingthe combination with a pusher machine and a coke guide machine movablefrom oven to oven along opposite sides of a battery of horizontal cokeovensa rammou-nted on said pusher machine; pusher ram control 16 meanson the pusher machine for normally rendering the pusher ram inoperablein a forward direction; pressure operated means on said pusher machineadapted to be actuated by impression of pressure from a pressure fluidsupply source and arranged to operate said pusher ram control means, torender the ram operable in a forward direction when the pressureoperated means is so actuated; and a pipe line for and individual toeach oven' of the battery and extending from the pusher side to the cokeside of the battery; of a pressure fluid supply source carried by, andtraveling from oven to oven with, one of said machines; coupling meanson, and movable from oven to oven with, said machine carrying thepressure fluid supply source, for temporarily coupling the said pressurefluid supply source on said machine to only one of said pipelines at atime and being such that the coupling of the pressure fluid supplysource on said machine to a pipe line can only be efiected from saidmachine, and then only when said machine is aligned with the ovenassociated with that pipe line; and fluid pressure impressing means onand carried by, and traveling from oven to oven with, the other of saidmachines for operable connection with only one of said pipe lines at atime, and likewise arranged so that its operative connection to a pipeline can only be effected from the machine carrying it, and then onlywhen the machine carrying it is aligned with the particular ovenassociated with that pipe line, for impressing the pressure of fluid inthe line onto the pressure operated means for the pusher ram controlmeans only when the two said machines are aligned respectively with theopposite ends of one and the same oven, said coupling means and saidfluid pressure impressing means being necessarily disconnected from thepipe lines when the machines carrying them are out of alignment with theovens associated with the respective pipe lines, thus preventingimpressnot aligned with one and the same oven for pushing thesame,wherein long travel means are provided, for travel from oven to ovenwith at least one of said machines, said long travel means including areplacement element requiring its placement in the long travel means formovement of said machine from oven to oven, and wherein each of thepressure fluid circuits for the individual ovens, comprises an elementrequiring the replacement element of the long travel means forcompletion of the respective circuits, whereby to render temporarilyinoperative themovement of the machine provided with long travel means,by its long travel means when a pressure fluid line is completed by thepressure of said replacement element in its pressure fluid circuit.

13. Horizontal coke oven battery coke-discharging apparatus comprising:the combination with a pusher machine and a coke guide machine movablefrom oven to oven along opposite sides of a battery of horizontal cokeovens, with a ram mounted on the pusher machine, an electric switch onthe pusher machine for norrnally preventing its pusher ram from beingdriven forwardly in pushing, actuating means on the pusher machine andoperable by fluid pressure, for actuating the electric switch to renderthe ram capable of making its forward pushing stroke, and a separate andindependent pipe line for and adjacent each oven of a battery andextending from the pusher side to the choke side of the latter; of apressure fluid supply source carried by, for travel from oven to ovenwith, one

of said machines, means carried by, for travel from oven to oven with,the machine on which the pressure fluid supply source is carried, forcoupling the pressure fluid supply source temporarily to only one ofsaid separate and independent pipe lines at a time, and then only whenthe machine carrying the pressure fluid supply source and its coupling,is otherwise aligned with the oven associated with that pipe line forthe pushing operation of that oven, and means for impressing pressure ofsaid lines onto said actuating means, for actuating the electric switchfor the ram, said means being carried by, for travel from oven to ovenwith, the other of said machines, and being operable for operativeconnection with only one of said pipe lines at a time, and then onlywhen the machine carrying it is otherwise aligned with the ovenassociated with that pipe line for the pushing operation of that oven,said means for coupling on one of said machines, and said means forimpressing pressure on the other of said machines, being such that theyare necessarily individually operatively disconnected from theindividual pipe lines, whenever the machines carrying them areindividually out of pushing alignment with the ovens associated withrespective pipe lines, whereby to prevent accidental pushing of any ovenwhenever one of said machines is aligned but the other is notsimultaneously also in pushing alignment with one and the same oven.

14. Horizontal coke oven battery coke-discharging apparatus comprising:the combination with a pusher machine and a coke guide machine movablefrom oven to oven along opposite sides of a battery of horizontal cokeovens, with a ram mounted on the pusher machine, an electric switch onthe pusher machine for normally preventing its pusher ram from beingdriven forwardly in pushing, actuating means on the pusher machine andoperable by fluid pressure, for actuating the electric switch to renderthe ram capable of making its forward pushing stroke, and a separate andindependentpipe line for and adjacent each oven of a battery andextending from the pusher side to the coke side of the latter; of

, 18 a pressure fluid supply source carried by, for travel from oven tooven with, one of said machines, means carried by, for travel from ovento ovenwith, themachine onwhich the pressure fluid supply source iscarried, for coupling the pressure fluid supply source temporarily toonly one of said separate and independent pipe lines at a time, and thenonly when the machine carrying the pressure fiuid supply source and itscoupling, is otherwise aligned with the oven associated with that pipeline for the pushing operation of that oven, and means for impressingpressure of said lines onto said actuating means, for actuating theelectric switch for the ram, said means being carried by, for travelfrom oven to oven with, the other of said machines, and being operablefor operative connection with only one of said pipe lines at a time, andthen only when the machine carrying it is otherwise aligned with theoven associated With that pipe line for the pushing operation of thatoven, said means for coupling on one of said machines, and said meansfor impressing pressure on the other of said machines, being such thatthey are necessarily individually operatively disconnected from theindividual pipe lines, whenever the machines carrying them areindividually out of pushing alignment with the ovens associated withrespective pipe lines, whereby to prevent accidental pushing 30 of anyoven whenever one of said machines is aligned but the other is notsimultaneously also in pushing alignment with one and the same oven. andwherein the means for coupling the pressure fluid supply sourcecomprises a self-sealing mem- 35 her, individually attachable ingas-tight relation over a port of each of said pipe lines.

JOHN W. DRAKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Chalmers Sept. 24, 1929 Number 1,729,327

